A good spa feels like another world. As soon as you walk through the door, you feel your shoulders relax, you breathe a little easier, and you tell your worries that youโll get back to them in approximately one to four hours. Thereโs no room for stress in this sanctuary!
At the Island Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Hura, which I was lucky enough to be able to visit, your journey to bliss begins even before you step foot in the spa. The only way to reach the spaโthe only one in the world located on its own private islandโis by speedboat. This means your metaphorical transportation to a Zen place begins with a literal one. Why leave your worries at the door when you can leave them on a whole other island?
After being whisked across the lagoon to the spaโocean air blowing my hair for the three-minute tripโthe spa staff greeted me with what I assumed was a glass of refreshing spa water. Only, it wasnโt. The drink in my cup was surprisingly (deliciously) sweet, with a tangy citrus zing. If drinking water always tasted this good, I swear Iโd never be dehydrated.
The spa manager then handed me a glass bowl filled with tiny scrolls of paper so that I could choose a โthought of the dayโ before beginning my treatment. โThe more you see yourself as what youโd like to become..the more youโll activate those dormant forces that will collaborate to transform your dream into reality,โ my note said.
At home, I canโt recreate the five-star, sea-inspired facial I received. And I certainly donโt have a dupe readily available for the spaโs over-water massage bedsโyep, during your spa service, you can gaze through a glass panel in the floor beneath you to watch fish, sharks, and other marine life swim past. (โThere are so many baby sharks!โ my masseuse told me, pausing to point one out in case my eyes had been closed.) But I can easily whip up that uplifting drink I was served at Kuda Huraa to find a slice of serenity during the daily grind.
This simple recipe has just three ingredients and takes three steps to make, but according to Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, nutrition expert and author of Everyday Snack Tray, itโs loaded with health-boosting benefits. This combo of ingredients might be a particularly wise choice for those with GI issues or battling a cold, she says.
โGinger has long been used in traditional medicine to help alleviate upset stomach and nausea and research backs that up,โ Largeman-Roth says. โThis root also provides powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, helping to reduce menstrual pain, pain from migraines, and pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.โ
“[The ginger root]ย provides powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, helping to reduce menstrual pain, pain from migraines, and pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.โ
โFrances Largeman-Roth, RDN, nutrition expert and author of Everyday Snack Tray
The limes, meanwhile, pack a punch of immune-system-supporting vitamin Cโone lime contains about 20mg of the nutrient, or just under a quarter of your daily recommended intake. โWhen weโre sick or have an infection, our vitamin C stores become depleted quickly, so getting enough of this important antioxidant vitamin is essential for immune function,โ Largeman-Roth says. Plus, โthe flavonoids found in limes and other citrus fruits provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, which help promote heart health.โ
Honey is also a great ingredient to reach for when you feel a cold coming on, as itโs able to soothe a sore throat (thereโs a reason cough drops are often honey-flavored!). According to Largeman-Roth, โA comprehensive review of honey found that it has positive cardiovascular benefits, aids cough in children, [and] improves wound healing โฆ Additionally, honey is a prebiotic, which means it helps promote the growth of healthy probiotic bacteria.โ
And donโt be scared off by the drinkโs sweet taste. โWhile honey does contain a high amount of naturally occurring sugar, it doesnโt appear to take away from honeyโs health benefits,โ says Largeman-Roth. What’s more, while this drink is brewed like a tea (you steep the ginger in boiling water before adding the other ingredients), it doesnโt contain any actual tea leaves and is caffeine-free. This means you can enjoy it any time of day, although Largeman-Roth notes that โit would be particularly beneficial first thing in the morning if youโre experiencing pain or if you need help clearing up a froggy throat.โ
This honey ginger limeade recipe is also a fantastic option for when you want to opt out of your busy day, even for just five minutes. (Pro tip: Make your space completely quiet and see if you can hear the spa music and crashing waves as you sip.)
The Four Seasons Maldivesโs Honey Ginger Limeade Recipe
Make 3-4 servings
Ingredients
3 medium (roughly thumb-sized) pieces of fresh ginger
2 limes, juiced
2 Tbsp honey
Instructions
1. Infuse the ginger with boiling water for five minutes.
2. Add lime juice and honey, mix well. Keep for a few hours to cool.
3. Serve warm or with ice
Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.
- Mahmoud, Ayman M et al. โBeneficial Effects of Citrus Flavonoids on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health.โย Oxidative medicine and cellular longevityย vol. 2019 5484138. 10 Mar. 2019, doi:10.1155/2019/5484138
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